A surge in Covid infections has thrust Spain back into the ‘extreme risk’ category with a cumulative incidence rate of 277.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and more than 17,000 infections recorded in a single day  – data which hasn’t escaped the notice of the rest of Europe, with Spain now on many of the countries’ ‘red travel list’.

This fifth wave, much of which is being attributed to the Delta variant and very high infection rates amongst young people, has forced several regions in Spain to reverse de-escalation and tighten restrictions.

But while the latest wave has not proved as deadly as previous spells in terms of fatalities and pressure on hospitals, the cumulative incidence rate in Spain is of particular concern, being one of the highest in Europe, behind Portugal.

As such, many neighbouring countries are now advising against travelling to mainland Spain.

France, which has an incidence rate of 43 cases per 100,000, is the latest country to add Spain to its ‘red travel list’ advising its citizens on Thursday against holidaying in Spain.

“Those who have not yet booked, avoid Spain and Portugal in their destinations…..a recommendation on which I insist,” said the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune on national television, going so far as to recommend those who had already booked to cancel their trips.

Meanwhile, Germany, with an incidence rate of 11 cases per 100,000 people, has added Cantabria (395 cases/100,000) and Catalonia (603) amongst the regions of Spain to which it advises against travelling, along with Andalusia (224), Navarre (377), the Basque Country (206), La Rioja (203), and Ceuta (just 32), which were already on its red list due to their bad data.

Belgium (55 cases/100,000) has followed suit, with the addition of the Valencia region (263).

Well documented is the fact that the UK was one of the first countries to advise against travelling to Spain – despite having a cumulative incident rate almost twice that of Spain (460 on July 7).

The Balearic Islands have since been moved to the UK government’s ‘green list’, but travellers returning to Britain from Spain’s mainland will have to quarantine. However, from July 19, those who are fully vaccinated won’t.

And just a week after rating Spain as ‘medium risk’, the Czech Republic (18 cases/100,000) has reclassified it as a ‘high-risk country’, and holidaymakers returning from Spain must now present a negative PCR test to get back into the country.

Speaking to Whitehall ministers this morning, they informed Global247news ” We are watching with extreme caution and it’s highly possible that Spain will be added to the UK’s Red list shortly.”